Good Night’s Sleep Linked to Optimal Physical & Mental Health

At a time when studies
indicate people are getting increasingly less sleep, one thing remains clear:
we need to take sleep much more seriously as it is critical to both health and
healing.

Those who don’t get
enough sleep are prone to lots of health-related issues that can interfere with
quality of life and even life expectancy. This can also interfere with healing,
especially when regular exercise, rehab and visits to the physical therapist
are necessary.

Multiple studies show
that people who struggle to get enough sleep at night are more susceptible to
issues and conditions such as weight gain, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart
disease, a weakened immune system, and even anxiety and depression.

According to the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the average adult requires
between 7 to 9 hours of sleep every night. School-aged children 6 to 12 years
old need 9 to 12 hours per night, while teens require 8 to 10 hours.

However, when people
wake up tired, then spend the rest of the day longing for a chance to take a
nap, it goes without saying that they’re not getting enough sleep. Over time,
one will likely find this lack of sleep begins to affect other areas of life,
whether it’s mood or a lack of motivation and drive to get things done in their
day-to-day activities.

It can become a spiral
if the lack of sleep is not remedied.

Having trouble getting
enough sleep at night? Consider the following tips:

Keep a Schedule: Maintain a regular bed
and wake-up schedule, even on the weekends.

Be Relaxed: Establish a regular,
relaxing bedtime routine such as soaking in a hot bath, reading a good book or
listening to music.

Exercise Regularly: It’s no coincidence
that people who exercise regularly or who spend their days more physically
active often report better sleep than those who are more sedentary.

Physical therapists
like to use the phrase, “movement is medicine,” and exercising for better sleep
is one of many examples where this often holds true. Just be sure to complete your exercise regimen
a few hours before bedtime.